http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189
this is a sweet article

Video 1, Hummingbirds:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/?widgets=unknown%7cSyndicatedVideoPlayer

Video 2, Parrots:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/?widgets=unknown%7cSyndicatedVideoPlayer
— Characteristics
body structure
– Feathers, wings, beak
– Thin, hollow bones
– Large sternum
body function
– Very efficient lungs & air sacs
– Unidirectional air flow
– Four-chambered heart
– Endotherms (warm-blooded)
– Keen eyesight - 8-10x better than humans
— Characteristics
Reproduction
– internal fertilization
– external development in
amniotic egg
Hatchlings
– Altricial – young hatch without feathers and are dependent on adults. ex) Red-tailed hawk
– Precocial – young hatch fully feathered and follow mother; 10-15 eggs; ex) turkey
— Large Variety of diets
Seeds, nectar, insects, small animals, carrion
Beaks indicate diet
— Feather Types
Flight – for flying
Contour – covers bird body
Down – used for insulation
— Males are usually more brightly colored
— Feathers
Extremely light (may have evolved from scales)
— No teeth
— Hollow bones
— Sternum allows for attachment of powerful flight muscles
— Flight requires energy and efficiency
Heartbeat pumps blood carrying oxygen to the muscles at 1000 beats/minute
Air flow system is unidirectional, making it more efficient
— Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
– Subphylum: Vertebrata
– Class: Aves


Bumble-beeHummingbird(DM).jpgBee Hummingbird external image 220px-Emperor_Penguin_Manchot_empereur.jpgEmperor Penguin
external image Ostrich.jpgOstrich external image barred-owl-8120.jpgOwl
external image perching-bald-eagle_6593.jpgBald Eagle